My View: Let's get the immigration bill right this time

Wednesday

Sep 25, 2013 at 2:35 PM

Ken Hall's Sept. 19 column misrepresents my central critique of the Senate immigration bill. On page five of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) letter of analysis of the Senate bill, the CBO finds that the bill will only reduce illegal immigration by 33 percent to 50 percent. The major problem with the Senate Bill is that it does not solve the problem.

Rep. Chris Gibson

Ken Hall's Sept. 19 column misrepresents my central critique of the Senate immigration bill. On page five of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) letter of analysis of the Senate bill, the CBO finds that the bill will only reduce illegal immigration by 33 percent to 50 percent. The major problem with the Senate Bill is that it does not solve the problem.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan, along with a Democratic Congress, passed significant immigration reform that — among other provisions — naturalized several million undocumented immigrants. All involved thought they were enacting a long-term solution.

However, this bill lacked adequate enforcement mechanisms and did not account for "supply and demand" dynamics in the labor market. As newly naturalized citizens moved on from farms and other employers, our country very quickly had a sizable influx in undocumented immigrants to meet these open labor demands, far surpassing the number naturalized in the 1986 bill.

The long-term failure of those efforts consequently have made many Americans cynical about comprehensive reform efforts. Will it actually solve the problem or will we end up right back in the same spot?

It doesn't have to be that way — we can, and must, reform our immigration system, and do it in a way that works. This means we need to improve on the Senate bill, and I am confident that goal is achievable.

First, we need to strengthen the enforcement of our current system. That means border security and a system to track visa compliance given that about half of the individuals here illegally now actually entered the country legally and overstayed their visas. The "e-verify" software program will enhance efficacy — ultimately phasing in 100 percent employer requirements on verifying legal status before hiring, which will enhance compliance. We must do the same verification for anyone receiving government benefits. Finally, individual states must be included in the enforcement process. In my view, this last point will significantly improve the CBO assessment of compliance and reduction of illegal immigration.

With confidence in the enforcement system, we need to improve the guest worker program, particularly accounting for agriculture labor needs. We also should streamline and modernize the naturalization process. It should not take nine years to become a citizen, and we can do better.

Finally, once we have a system we are confident we can enforce, with the requisite changes to our guest worker program and naturalization process, we can then address current undocumented immigrants with the confidence we will not repeat the failings of 1986. For those here illegally, there will need to be consequences. These could include a guilty plea for breaking our law, payment of back taxes, and a background check. Meeting these criteria could enable undocumented individuals to begin a legal immigration process, after those who from the outset complied with our laws.

The Senate bill, in its current form, will only repeat the failings of 1986. It's 1,200 pages long and can be improved upon. I believe the House can do this. That is our responsibility as legislators, and part of our constitutional design.

I'm pressing my colleagues to get it right this time. We are, at once, a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Going forward, we need to reconcile these two principles in a manner grounded in reality and experience and insist on reform that works.

Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, represents the 19th Congressional District, which includes all of Ulster and Sullivan counties and most of Dutchess County.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.